The Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex, developed during chief executive Mark Bristow’s tenure as CEO of Randgold before its acquisition by Barrick in 2018, is a cornerstone of Mali’s economy.
The Toronto-based miner halted operations at its Loulo-Gounkoto complex in Mali in January, following the seizure of gold stocks, which were subsequently transported via helicopter to the state-owned Banque Malienne de Solidarité (BMS) in Bamako. Since December, the Malian government, which holds a 20% stake in Loulo-Gounkoto, has restricted gold exports from the site.
Last week, Bristow had expressed optimism about the talks, noting the company was “making progress”. He also acknowledged that developments were not advancing as swiftly as anticipated.
Barrick did not reply to a request for comment from MINING.COM.
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